Some may think that you can go untrained into fishing. The best advice I would give people considering fishing as a profession is to get training. Fishing is an all encompassing career - when you need to go fishing, the rest of your life goes on hold unfortunately. It is very unpredictabe because you could be fishing non stop for three weeks and tied up for two.

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Occupation Details

Packaging Designer

Education Most of these occupations require qualifications at NFQ Levels 7 or 8 (Ordinary / Honours Degrees) but some do not.

Related Experience A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an engineer must complete four years of college and work for several years in engineering to be considered qualified.

Job Training Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Number Employed:

6,600

Packaging designers create designs for containers such as bottles, cartons and boxes.

The Work

Packaging designers create designs for all forms of packaging including bottles, packets, cartons and boxes. Their designs must be able to protect and preserve the contents of the package, and look good enough to persuade people to buy the product.

They work on their ideas using traditional design tools such as pens and paints but, increasingly, they use computer-aided design (CAD). Meetings with clients and colleagues to discuss packaging requirements also take up a considerable amount of a packaging designer's time.

Once the designer has an idea of what their clients require they make a series of rough sketches, the best of which are refined and presented to the customers for approval. When the best ideas have been chosen, packaging designers use model making techniques to see what their design looks like in three-dimensional form before it is finalised, and before production begins.

Tasks & Activities

The following is a list of the most commonly reported tasks and activities for this occupation

Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.

Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.

Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.

Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Internet websites.

Review final layouts and suggest improvements as needed.

Prepare illustrations or rough sketches of material, discussing them with clients or supervisors and making necessary changes.

Use computer software to generate new images.

Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.

Maintain archive of images, photos, or previous work products.

Prepare notes and instructions for workers who assemble and prepare final layouts for printing.

Work Activities

The following is a list of the most commonly reported work activities in this occupation.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Knowledge

The following is a list of the five most commonly reported knowledge areas for this occupation.

Design: Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Communications and Media: Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Fine Arts: Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

Skills

The following is a list of the most commonly reported skills used in this occupation.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Personal Qualities

As a packaging designer, you will need to know how to use a wide range of packaging materials such as tin, glass, plastic and card. You will also need an understanding of production processes. And you must be aware of how your designs affect the environment, for example when packaging is thrown away.

Further Information

A detailed description of this occupation can be found on a number of online databases. Follow the link(s) below to access this information:

Search for Related Courses from Qualifax - the National Learners Database

Higher Ed & CAO Course suggestions

If you are interested in this occupation, then the following courses may also be of interest. Note that these course suggestions are not intended to indicate that they lead directly to this occupation, only that they are related in some way and may be worth exploring.

If you are interested in this occupation, then the following courses may also be of interest. Note that these course suggestions are not intended to indicate that they lead directly to this occupation, only that they are related in some way and may be worth exploring.